Other Self

A human body is made up of 10:1 non-human cells to human cells. Non-human cells include many types of bacteria, different animals like arachnids (!), these mainly live on our skin, digestive track, eyes, ears, the respiratory and the uro-genital systems. This is referred to as the human microbiome. What does it mean that there is so much non-human in us? There is evidence of how these populations affect our health and emotional well-being, and how these populations appear to be genetically unique, like a fingerprint. My microbiome is different from yours and they're both different from everybody else. 


This piece is part of a series of three other selves. While painting I stand in front of them and they match me as a shadow, as I place the internal organs, the eyes, look for the cranny of the knee.